Clearing driveways after snow removal too expensive for city

Editor's note: Ask the Mayor is a weekly feature in the American News. It will appear each Monday in the Community section of the newspaper.

To submit a question, e-mail askthemayor@aberdeennews.com or send the question to Ask the Mayor, American News, Box 4430, Aberdeen, SD 57402-4430.

Q. Why can't the city have three or four skid-steer units follow snowplows and clear driveways?

A. There are perhaps as many as 8,000 driveways in Aberdeen. If a skilled skid-steer operator could average 15 driveways cleared per hour, we'd need over 500 total hours for each snowstorm.

Plowing is now targeted to be done in 24 hours under the city manager's new plan. To keep up with the plows, we'd need 20 skid-steers.

At $20,000 each, that would cost $400,000. We'd need two shifts of 20 operators to cover the 24 hours; that's 40 operators on call.

At even as little as $25 per hour, each event would cost more than $15,000 in salary and taxes.

With the new plan approved by the council, we've already nearly doubled the cost of each snow removal.

This skid-steer idea would cost - every time we plow - another $15,000 more, plus the cost of purchase, maintenance, fuel, storage and depreciation.

Could we hire private contractors?

Possibly, but the cost would probably be as much or more, and then who would be available to work on private lots?

Also, what about homeowners who wouldn't want or need the help? Who pays for the inevitable damage to yards, curbs and mailboxes? Should apartment renters pay to benefit only homeowners? Would it not make more sense for people who are unable to clear their own driveway to arrange for Rent-A-Kid or a neighborhood kid to do it?

Q. Who sits on the board of appeals for code enforcement, and what are the qualifications for them to decide if a building needs to be demolished?

A. In the six-plus years I've been mayor, there has been only one demolition that has had to be “ordered” by the city.

When ordinance violations demand action, the planning and zoning department makes every effort to work with the property owners to either get the problems fixed or agree to a voluntary demolition.

Demolition orders come from the city planning and zoning department. An appeal would be made directly to the planning and zoning director. If that is denied, an appeal then can be made to the City Council. (The council's qualification is that each member has been elected.)

If that also fails to stop the demolition process, another appeal could be made to circuit court, where a temporary stay would typically be granted until the court could review the situation and make a ruling.

This all gives great incentive for city officials and the council to be sure the ordinance has been followed correctly so the action will not be reversed by the court.

Q. Will the city put up snow fence this year to keep snow off Melgaard Road?

A. Yes, the fences will be placed in the soccer field.

Q. Is the city going to repair the asphalt path connecting to the bike trail at 12th Avenue North?

A. Ruts and damage around the asphalt were repaired last week; no more work is planned.

Mike Levsen is the part-time mayor of Aberdeen. Levsen's views are his own and don't necessarily represent those of other city officials.